| Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill | | | | make the decisions that are best for |
| | | | everybody and not putting them into the |
| The first thing you should do when you decide | | | | middle of a volatile situation. |
| to get divorced is to talk to a lawyer. A | | | | |
| lawyer will be up to speed on all of the | | | | You can save money by using divorce |
| current divorce laws in your state and can | | | | mediation. Because both parties use the |
| help you fill out your divorce paper work. | | | | mediator, they can split the cost between |
| Some couples are determined to save money and | | | | them, which makes the expense much far more |
| not use a lawyer; they are convinced that | | | | manageable. |
| they can work things out amicably. The sad | | | | |
| truth of the matter is that no divorce is | | | | When using divorce mediation, the spouses are |
| easy-no matter how amicable the split is. If | | | | allowed to follow their own time schedule. |
| you are convinced that you won't need | | | | They aren't required to set court dates or |
| separate lawyers to negotiate your divorce | | | | schedule lawyers. Instead the divorce is |
| for you, you might want to try divorce | | | | processed one division at a time. It is |
| mediation. | | | | cooperative not antagonistic. |
| | | | |
| Divorce mediation still feels new but it is | | | | When you use divorce mediation, the mediator |
| quickly becoming accepted as a way to | | | | completes your paperwork for you. The |
| dissolve a marriage amicably. There are | | | | mediator is also an attorney and this person |
| several different kinds of divorce mediation, | | | | can make sure that you are using the most |
| but the main idea is that both spouses sit | | | | current forms and that they are filled out |
| down with one lawyer who is the mediator and | | | | correctly. They can even file your divorce |
| together the three of them decide how | | | | papers for you and you are then free to |
| everything needs to be divided, who gets | | | | represent yourself when your court date |
| custody of the kids and the lawyer makes sure | | | | comes. |
| that everything is done to the letter of the | | | | |
| law and that the papers are filled out | | | | You get the same legal information with |
| correctly. | | | | divorce mediation that you would get if you |
| | | | and your spouse each got your own lawyer. |
| Here are some of the major reasons you should | | | | This way, however, there is no guesswork as |
| try divorce mediation: | | | | to what your spouse's lawyer is persuading |
| | | | him/her to do. Working with a mediator keeps |
| Mediation is much easier for your kids to | | | | everybody on the same track and working |
| process. Divorce is hard enough on kids, but | | | | together. It turns your divorce into a |
| when they know that their parents are at odds | | | | project, not a confrontation. |
| with each other and might be behaving badly | | | | |
| toward one another, the trauma for the | | | | It is important that you end your marriage in |
| children is far worse. Divorce mediation | | | | the most diplomatic way possible. Divorce |
| shows your kids that you and their other | | | | mediation is a way to make that happen. |
| parent are still a team-working together to | | | | |